Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse
 All Digital Collections  spacer  Login  
 
Add to bookbag
Editor: Herrtage, Sidney J. H. (Sidney John Hervon)
Title: Early English versions of the Gesta Romanorum / edited by Sidney J.H. Herrtage
Rights/Permissions:

The University of Michigan Library provides access to these materials for educational and research purposes. These materials are in the public domain. If you have questions about the collection, please contact mec-info@umich.edu. If you have concerns about the inclusion of an item in this collection, please contact libraryit-info@umich.edu.

Rights Statement: No Copyright
Transcribed from: Early English versions of the Gesta Romanorum
Herrtage, Sidney J. H. (Sidney John Hervon), ed.
London: N. Trübner & Co, 1879
URL: https://name.umdl.umich.edu/GRom

Table of Contents
View entire text
[ I. ]
EMPERATOR FELICIANUS.
(HOW A WIFE EMPLOYED A NECROMANCER TO CAUSE THE DEATH OF HER HUSBAND, AND HOW HE WAS SAVED BY A CLERK.
[ II. ]
EMPERATOR LUCIUS.
(OF A KNIGHT WHO ASSISTED A SERPENT AGAINST A TOAD, AND WAS IN TURN SAVED BY IT. )
[ III. ]
EMPERATOR DEOCLICIANUS.
(OF THE MAGIC IMAGE AND THE ENCHANTED CHAMBER.)
[ IV. ]
EMPERATOR TITUS.
(OF THE KNIGHT WHO SAVED A CITY AND WAS UNGRATEFULLY PUT TO DEATH BY SOME OF ITS INHABITANTS.)
EMPERATOR BETOLDUS.
(OF THE WOMAN WHO WAS IMPRISONED FOR ADULTERY, TOGETHER WITH HER INFANT SON. )
EMPERATOR POMPEIUS.
(HOW THE LAME MAN AND THE BLIND MAN FOUND THEIR WAY TO THE EMPEROR'S FEAST. )
[ VII. ]
EMPERATOR ADRIANUS.
(OF THE SERPENT AND THE TOAD.)
[ VIII. ]
EMPERATOR FOLLICULUS.
(OF THE WISE AND THE FOOLISH KNIGHTS.)
[EMPERATOR FREDERICUS.]
(THE BLOODY SHIRT. OF A KNIGHT WHO RESTORED A PRINCESS TO HER KINGDOM, AND OF HER GRATITUDE TO HIM.)
[EMPERATOR APPOLANIUS.]
(OF THE SPEAKING STATUE MADE BY VIRGIL, AND OF FOCUS THE SMITH. )
[EMPERATOR LENOPPUS.]
(OF THE DRUNKARDS AND THE INNKEEPER. )
[XII. ]
[EMPERATOR POLEMUS.]
(HOW THE KING OF HUNGARY WAS DISAPPOINTED OF HIS WIFE.)
[ XIII. ]
AGYOS THE EMPEROURE.
(OF THE GRATITUDE OF AN EMPEROR TO A KNIGHT WHO HAD SAVED HIS LIFE.)
[ XIV. ]
ADRIANUS THE EMPEROURE.
(HOW A SON CONCEALED HIS FATHER IN HIS HOUSE, AND HOW HE WAS FOUND OUT.)
THEODOSIUS TH'EMPEROURE.
(THE STORY OF KING LEAR AND HIS THREE DAUGHTERS. )
ANCELMUS THE EMPEROURE.
(OF THREE KNIGHTS WHO WERE SENT TO RECOVER A CASTLE.)
CACLIDES.
(OF A YOUNG KNIGHT WHO SLEW AN OLD KNIGHT AND MARRIED HIS WIDOW.)
[ XVIII. ]
ANTONIUS THE EMPEROURE.
(HOW A CITY WAS TAKEN BY STRATAGEM.)
[ XIX. ]
ANDRONICUS ÞEMPEROUR.
(OF THE KNIGHT WHO SAVED HIS LIFE BY ANSWERING SEVEN QUESTIONS.)
[ XX. ]
BONONIUS THE EMPEROUR.
(OF THE THREE JEALOUS PHYSICIANS.)
[ XXI. ]
ANTONIUS THE EMPEROURE.
(THE MORAL OF THE GAME OF CHESS.)
[XXII.]
ANDRONICUS ÞE EMPEROURE.
(OF THE THREE FALSE WITNESSES AND HOW THEY WERE DETECTED.)
JOVINIANUS.
(OF JOVINIAN THE PROUD AND HOW HE WAS HUMBLED.)
[ XXIV. ]
AVERYOS THE EMPEROURE.
(OF THE KNIGHT WHO LOST HIS WIFE AND TWO SONS, AND HOW THEY WERE FOUND.)
[XXV. ]
PLEBEIUS THE EMPEROURE.
(HOW THREE KNIGHTS WERE MURDERED, AND HOW THE MURDERS WERE FOUND OUT.)
[ XXVI. ]
CESAR THE EMPEROURE.
(HOW A GREYHOUND SAVED A CHILD FROM A SERPENT.)
LAMPADIUS A WISE EMPEROUR.
(OF A KNIGHT WHO SAVED HIS LIFE BY STATING THREE INCONTROVERTIBLE FACTS. )
[ XXVIII. ]
EVFFEMIANUS A WYSE EMPEROUR.
(THE STORY OF GUIDO.)
[ XXIX. ]
MARDONIUS ÞAT WAS A WISE EMPEROUR.
(THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD.)
PWAS AN EMPEROURE.
(THE MAN AND THE HONEY IN THE TREE. )
GARDINUS THE EMPEROURE.
(OF THE ENCHANTED GARDEN.)
POMPEIUS A WISE EMPEROURE.
(HOW A POOR MAN BEAT THE EMPEROR'S DAUGHTER IN RUNNING.)
DOMICIANUS A WYSE EMPEROUR.
(OF THE YOUNG KNIGHT WHO HAD THREE FRIENDS, AND HOW HE TRIED THEM.)
[XXXIV. ]
AGIOS A WISE EMPEROURE.
(THE ALLEGORY OF MERCY, TRUTH, JUSTICE & PEACE.)
THEODOSIUS A WISE EMPEROURE.
(THE HARPER AND THE FISHES.)
SOLEMIUS WAS EMPEROUR.
(THE CUNNING OF THE UNFAITHFUL STEWARD.)
CESAR WAS A WISE EMPEROURE.
(THE EMPEROR AND HIS COOK.)
ALEXANDIR A WISE EMPEROUR.
(HOW A SON SAVED THE LIFE OF HIS FATHER).
[ XXXIX. ]
POLEMIUS A WISE EMPEROURE.
(OF A CHILD WHICH WAS ENTRUSTED TO A KNIGHT, AND HOW IT WAS CARRIED OFF BY A BEAR AND RECOVERED.)
[ XL. ]
SELESTINUS A WYSE EMPEROURE.
(THE "BOND" STORY IN THE "MERCHANT OF VENICE.")
.
[ XLI. ]
SESAR A WISE EMPEROURE.
(OF AN EMPEROR WHO SUFFERED THE LOSS OF HIS EYE FOR THE SAKE OF HIS SON.)
POLEMIUS A WISE EMPEROUR.
(OF THE THREE REPUTED SONS OF AN EMPEROR, AND HOW THE TRUE SON WAS DISCOVERED.)
[ XLIII. ]
ARCHILAUS A WISE EMPEROURE.
(OF THE WONDERFUL SHIRT MADE BY A VIRGIN.)
[XLIV. ]
SATURNINUS A WISE EMPEROURE.
(WHY THE EMPEROR'S THREE DAUGHTERS, WHO WERE WIDOWS, WOULD NOT MARRY A SECOND TIME.)
FOLLICULUS A WISE EMPEROUR.
(THE STORY OF THE THREE COCKS.)
GODFRIDUS A WISE EMPEROURE.
(OF THE MAGIC RING, BROOCH AND CLOTH, WHICH AN EMPEROR LEFT TO HIS SON; HOW HE LOST THEM AND HOW THEY WERE RECOVERED.)
ENLOPIUS WAS A GOODE EMPEROUR.
(THE TWO FRIENDS.)
DOLFINUS A WISE EMPEROURE.
(HOW A PROPHECY WAS FULFILLED.)
[ XLIX. ]
DAMASCENUS A WISE EMPEROUR.
(OF INGRATITUDE, AND HOW IT WAS PUNISHED.)
CESAR AN EMPEROURE.
(HOW A SON WHO WISHED TO KILL HIS FATHER WAS REPROVED.)
FREUDERICUS A WISE EMPEROUR.
(HOW A WIFE WAS CONSOLED FOR THE ABSENCE OF HER HUSBAND.)
[ LII. ]
PROTHEUS WAS AN EMPEROURE.
(OF A SON WHO LEFT HIS MOTHER IN ORDER TO RESCUE HIS FATHER FROM CAPTIVITY.)
[ LIII. ]
GORGONIUS AN EMPEROURE.
(WHY A PHYSICIAN WOULD NOT CURE HIS STEPMOTHER)
[ LIV. ]
ONIAS WAS AN EMPEROURE.
(HOW A SEDUCER WHO HAD MURDERED HIS ILLEGITIMATE SON WAS PUNISHED.)
[ LV. ]
CLIPODIUS A WYSE EMPEROUR.
(HOW A STEPMOTHER WHO WISHED TO FAVOUR HER OWN SON WAS FOILED.)
[ LVI. ]
POLEMIUS AN EMPEROURE.
(HOW AN EMPEROR BEQUEATHED HIS EMPIRE TO THE MOST SLOTHFUL OF HIS SONS.)
[ LVII. ]
ALEXANDIR AN EMPEROURE.
(HOW ALEXANDER KILLED A BASILISK THAT HAD DESTROYED A GREAT PART OF HIS ARMY.)
[ LVIII. ]
ERACLIUS A WISE EMPEROURE.
(HOW THE SENTENCES OF A CERTAIN EMPEROR WHEN ONCE GIVEN WERE UNALTERABLE.)
[ LIX. ]
FULGENCIUS A WISE EMPEROURE.
(HOW A SERPENT PUNISHED THE INGRATITUDE OF A KNIGHT.)
[ LX. ]
ARCHILAUS AN EMPEROURE.
(HOW A FALSE WIFE, WHO COMPASSED THE DEATH OF HER HUSBAND, WAS PUNISHED BY A LION.)
[ LXI. ]
EUFEMIUS A RICHE EMPEROUR.
(THE LEGEND OF THE LIFE OF POPE GREGORY.)
SOLEMIUS A WYSE EMPERORE.
(HOW A GUARDIAN RECOVERED HIS WARD WHO HAD BEEN LOST.)
THEOBALDUS THE EMPEROUR.
(HOW A KNIGHT WHO HAD MURDERED AN EARL FOR HIS MONEY WAS PUNISHED.)
OLIMPUS THE EMPEROUR.
(HOW A JEALOUS QUEEN SATISFIED HER SPITE.)
CICLADES THE EMPEROUR.
(OF THE INGRATITUDE OF A STEWARD TOWARDS A POOR MAN WHO HAD SAVED HIS LIFE.)
ANCELMUS THE EMPEROUR.
(THE STORY OF THE THREE CASKETS IN THE "MERCHANT OF VENICE.")
[ LXVII. ]
ANTONIUS THE EMPEROUR.
(HOW A YOUNG MAN WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON BY THE DAUGHTER OF A PIRATE.)
DONATUS THE EMPEROUR.
(OF THE THREE IMAGES IN A TEMPLE AT ROME.)
[ LXIX. ]
MERELAUS ÞE EMPEROUR.
(THE STORY OF CONSTANCE IN CHAUCER'S "MAN OF LAWE'S TALE.")
[ LXX. ]
LAMARTINUS THE EMPEROUR.
(HOW A JEALOUS STEWARD FELL INTO THE TRAP WHICH HE HAD LAID FOR ANOTHER.)
(ANDROCLES AND THE LION.)
(HOW A DRAGON WHICH KILLED THE PEOPLE OF A CITY WITH ITS BREATH WAS DRIVEN AWAY.)
(HOW A NIGHTINGALE DELIVERED A MALEFACTOR FROM PRISON.)
CALEPONDINUS.
(HOW ARISTOTLE SAVED ALEXANDER'S LIFE.)
(HOW A FATHER KILLED HIS SON RATHER THAN SEE HIM IN PAIN.)
[ XXIV. ]
(HOW AN UNFAITHFUL WIFE WAS CURED OF HER PASSION.)
(HOW AN UNGRATEFUL MAN REBELLED AGAINST THE EMPEROR, HIS BENEFACTOR.)
(HOW A FAITHFUL GUARDIAN WAS REWARDED.)
(HOW AN EMPEROR DIVIDED ALL HIS POSSESSIONS AMONGST HIS SUBJECTS.)
(OF THE DOWRIES WHICH AN EMPEROR GAVE TO HIS TWO DAUGHTERS.)
(HOW A POOR MAN BY SOLVING THREE DIFFICULTIES OBTAINED AN EMPEROR'S DAUGHTER IN MARRIAGE.)
[ XXXVII. ]
(OF THE SAYINGS OF FOUR WISE MEN.)
[ XXXIX. ]
(HOW A PAINTER DEPICTED A MOST BEAUTIFUL LADY.)
[ XLIII.]
(ANECDOTE OF ABBOT ATHANASIUS.)
[ XLIV. ]
(HOW A SON INDUCED HIS FATHER TO BECOME A MONK.)
[ XLV. ]
(A FABLE OF A CAT AND A MOUSE.)
[ XLVI. ]
(THE ADVENTURES OF GAUTER IN SEARCH OF A KINGDOM.)
[ XLVII. ]
(OF A HOUSE UPON WHICH THE SUN ALWAYS SHONE.)
[ XLVIII. ]
(THE EAGLE AND CROW.)
[ XLIX. ]
(THE WOLF AND THE SWINE.)
[L.]
(FABLE OF THE ASS AND THE SWINE.)
[LI.]
(FABLE OF THE HEN AND HER CHICKENS.)
[LII.]
(THE FABLE OF THE CAT AND THE FOX.)
[LIII.]
(THE MORAL LESSON TAUGHT BY THE ANTS.)
[LIV.]
(THE BURIAL OF THE WOLF.)
[ LVI. ]
(THE APE AND THE NUTS.)
[ LVII. ]
(THE WOLF AND THE HARE.)
[ LVIII. ]
(OF A COUNTRYMAN WHO WAS INVITED TO A FEAST.)
[ LIX. ]
(HOW A CLERK AVOIDED HIS CONTRACT WITH THE DEVIL.)
[ LX. ]
(OF A CLERK WHO LOVED A HEATHEN MAIDEN.)
[ LXI. ]
(OF A MIRACLE PERFORMED ON CERTAIN JEWS.)
[ LXII. ]
(HOW MAN'S WORKS ARE WEIGHED IN A BALANCE.)
[ LXIII. ]
(HOW A MAN WAS DELIVERED FROM PURGATORY FOR HIS PIETY.)
[ LXIV. ]
(HOW CERTAIN TEMPTING DEVILS WERE VANQUISHED.)
[ LXV. ]
(HOW A BISHOP WAS DAMNED FOR NEGLECT OF THE WARNINGS OF GOD.)
[ LXVI. ]
(HOW A MONK WAS REWARDED FOR HIS PRAYERS ON BEHALF OF TWO BROTHERS.)
[ LXVII. ]
(HOW A WOMAN, WHO WAS DAMNED, APPEARED TO HER SON.)
[ LXVIII. ]
(THE PUNISHED OF ADULTERERS.)
[ LXIX. ]
(HOW A RICH MAN WAS PUNISHED FOR ROBBING A POOR WIDOW.)
[ LXX. ]
(HOW INJUSTICE TOWARDS A POOR MAN WAS PUNISHED.)
[ LXXI. ]
(HOW A MAN WHO HAD COMMITTED INCEST WAS PARDONED.)
[ LXXII ]
(OF A REPENTANT HARLOT.)
[ LXXIII. ]
(HOW A MAN ESCAPED THE DEVIL BY PENITENCE.)
[ LXXIV. ]
(HOW A WOMAN'S HAND WAS CLEARED FROM THE STAINS OF BLOOD.)
[ LXXV ]
(OF THE NECESSITY OF CONFESSION.)
[ LXXVI. ]
(A VISION OF MARY MAGDALENE.)
[ LXXVII. ]
(OF THE PENITENCE OF A WOMAN WHO HAD COMMITTED THREE MURDERS.)
[ LXXVIII. ]
(HOW A MURDERER WAS DETECTED BY A DOG.)
[ LXXX. ]
(THE POWER OF PENITENCE.)
[ LXXXI. ]
(HOW A SON DELIVERED HIS MOTHER FROM HELL.)
[ LXXXII. ]
(HOW AN UNBELIEVER WAS SHAMED BY THE DEVIL.)
[ LXXXIII. ]
(OF FOUR DEVILS WHICH APPEARED TO A DYING MAN.)
[ LXXXIV. ]
(HOW ST. CATHERINE DROVE AWAY THE DEVIL.)
[ LXXXV. ]
(HOW THE VIRGIN PLEADED FOR A SINNER'S SOUL.)
[ LXXXVI. ]
(HOW A KNIGHT SAW ALL HIS ACTIONS ENTERED IN TWO BOOKS.)
[ LXXXVII. ]
(OF A HAUNTED CHAMBER IN ST. MARY'S ABBEY, YORK.)
[ LXXXVIII. ]
(OF THE DEATH-BED OF A PROFANE SWEARER.)
[ LXXXIX. ]
(HOW AN ANCHORESS WAS TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL.)
[ XC. ]
(HOW A KING'S SON SHARED HIS REWARD.)
[ XCI. ]
(A MORAL LESSON DRAWN FROM GRAMMAR.)
[ XCII. ]
(HOW TWO DEVILS WERE SET IN THE STOCKS.)
[ XCIII. ]
(OF AN ARGUMENT BETWEEN THE VIRGIN AND THE DEVIL.)
[ XCIV. ]
(OF THREE QUESTIONS ASKED BY OUR LORD.)
[ XCV. ]
(OF THE SEVEN DEVILS IN A MAN.)
[ XCVI. ]
(HOW A HEATHEN WOMAN WAS CONVERTED.)
ADDITIONAL STORIES
(NOT IN THE MSS).